Combined motion-picture and sound recording and reproducing apparatus



Jun 15 ,1926.

E. H. FOLEY COMBINED uo'non nc'ruaa AND souun RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed April 4. 1924 3 sheetg-sh'ggt 1 INVENTOR' fikrr/ [K ffi/ey BY f a ATTORNEY June 15 1926. 1,589,139

E. H. FOLEY COIBINBD MOTION PICTURE AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed April 4 1924 3 Sheets-6h! 2 mm mm INVENTOR I 4621/ fo/q couamsn uonon PICTURE AND sounn asconnms AND nn'rnonucms unmnus E. H. FOLEY June 15 1926.

:s sheets-sued 5 Filed April 4. 1924 INVENTOR m ATTORNEY ll lllllluv III Patented June 15,1926. 1,589,139

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL HQIOLEY; 61' SILT-TL], wasme rois. oomamnn xenon-moron Ami som noonnnie m narnonucnie mana'rus. Application filed April 4, 1924, Serial Io. 704,150.

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for recording and reproducing motion picture scenes and accompanying spoken words or other sounds;

and its ob ect,' generally, is the perfection of apparatus of-this character and in the manner of operatively connecting the same -so .as to afiord more than heretofore.

picture andsound apparatuses' has been mainly due to the lack of provision to roduce sound records which are capable 0 re producing in association with screen pic,

tures mobile sounds at positions corresponding with their (positions of origin with respect to the fiel of the picture.

These defects and imperfections, and the man'nerin which the same are overcome will be explained in following description and particularly set forth in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a sectional plan view, shown somewhat diagrammatica ly, representing sound and picture producing apparatuses with relation to the scene and sound sources, the sound recording apparatus being'of the frictional type. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating apparatus for projectin pic- 'tures upon a screen a-nd'apparatus or reproducing the sounds frictionally in their locations or places of origin with respect to the reproduced pictures. Fig. 3 is similar view illustrating an alternative form of the invention, wherein recording apparatuses are of the non-frictional type. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a known system of recording sound by a moving beam of light.

Fig. 5 represents means for reproduci sound and picture exhibits record throu h the medium of apparatuses illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. F1 6 is a plan view of a portion of a record strip of the character employed in the sound reproducer shown in Fig. 5 with associated reproducing circuits.

' Fig. 7 is a view partly in perspective and partly diagrammatic em loyiilirg apparatus similar to that illustrated in 1g. 2 exce t that a single film is utilized for both 0 sound and realistic exhibitions The defects hitherto in combined motionpicture records, andjshowing the film 0 rating mechanism morev in detail. Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates a 0'1- suitable construction for reducing upon an intermittently moving in 11 a successon of negative pictures of scenes occurring, say, in a field represented by line 1212. Associated with said camera is a graphophone by which sound records are produced, as for example, upon a film 13 through the medium of a plurality o1 Styluses- 14 which, as shown in Fig. 1, are respectively connected to levers 15 carrying armatures 16 which are actuated by means of electric magnets 17.

The windings 18 of said ma ets are in secondary circuits 19 19' an 19' which camera of known are energized through the instrumentality I of inductances P and S from primary circu ts 20, 20 and 20 re'pectively. Said prima circuits include a battery 21 and microp iones indicated by A,'B, and C for the respective circuits.

According to the present invention said microphones are disposed in spaced relations with respect to each other and to different portions of the scene or field 1212 which is to be recorded pietorially on the film.

Microphones disposed in spaced relations will be affected as to intensity of sound vibrations in direct proportion to the uare of the amplitude of the vibrations o the source o'f'sound, and inverse proportion to the square of the distancefrom the source of sound, that is to say-will vary individually as the source of sound im ulses is nearer to or farther from the di erent microphones. Therefore a mobile source of sound will have a continually varying effect on the microphone per se.

As each of the microphones are in circuit with an individual recorder, the differences in the sound intensities actingion the various microphones will be correspondinglyproduced by the respective recorders.

1? represents a supp microphone which may be located at any convenient tions transmitted through whose secondaries 37 37 place and, as shown, is connected by leads 20 with the circuit 20 although it may be connected and arranged to operate a stylus to produce an independent record on the film 13, if desired. y

The purposeofthe microphones A, B, and C and the associated styluses actuated therewith is to produce sound record identations as 24. 24 and 24 on the film 13 according to positions with respect to the field whereat'the sounds occur; The'other microphone D, and its connections with the film record'- ing stylus therefor is designedto afford a record of sounds for what may be termed stage of effects as, for BXZLIHPIBLH. loud 'noise made upon a bass drum to indicate an exaggerated sound falling body as represented, in, the scene.-

As shown in Fig. 1-, the film 13' is intended to travel unintermittently over a platen 25 by means of a spur roller 26 mounted upon a shaft'27 which is rotated as by means of an operating crank- 28. Motion is transmitted intermittently to the picture film 11 by means of a spur roller 29 having a shaft 30 upon which is mounted a slot wheel 31 receiving motion from a upon the shaft 27.

- In Fig. 2, is represented apparatuses for reproducing the records obtained by means of the above described devices, comprising a kinetoscope 33 adapted to project upon a screen 34 motion pictures from an intermit-- tently driven film 11 13 represents a graphophone film record of sounds corresponding to those accompanying the scene which is recorded onthe picture film 11 I The films 13 and 11 respectively are driven by means of spur rollers 26 and 29 mounted upon shafts 27 and 30 whereby progressive motion of the shaft 27 is transmitted in the form of intermittent motion to the shaft 30 through the medium of a slot Wheel 31 and a pin gear 32 on the respective shafts 30 and 27 14 represent reproducing styluses associated with reproducers 35, preferably of the microphone type, one for each record line or groove 24, 24 24 on the film 13 said reproducers being influenced by the vibrathe styluses by the undulating surface ot the record sound waves.

These reproducers are included in primaries 36 36 and 36 of induction circuits electrical sound-amplifiers 38 and receivers A ,-B and C of a loud speaker type.

According to the present invention the re-celvers A, B

" located in approxlmately the relative positions laterally and vertically of thescreen 34. thatithe transmitting :microphones occupy with respect to the field 12-12 of the the receivers A, B, C

in accordance with and accompany the' due to the impact of a phones A, B and pin gear 32 mountedand 37 include and C respectively, are

' LBSQJLSQ (Fig. 1) from an extraneous source, that the sounds reproduced through the medium of will be distributed scene action .in a most effective manner and proper locations.

In the alternative forms illustrated in- Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the devices are similar to thoseshown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the means provided in the grapho phones for recording and reproducingsounds is by non-frictional means insteadof bytifrictional means. l

To which ends the sound waves 'recor through the medium of the respective micro- C, Fig. 3, are recorded upon a strip of paper or other suitable material as by means of an oscillograph, an example of a single circuitsystem being illustrated in Fig. 4; 'In which View, the microphone A is in series with the battery 21 and the pr mary windingP of an induction coil, the secondary winding of which is in series with the winding of a magnet core 18 having its armature 16 applied to a resilient diaphragm 40. This diaphragm is connected at 41 to the free end of a lever 42 which is fulcrumed at 43 and carries a mirror 44 which reflects a light beam indicated by 45 from a source of light 45 in transverse current conducting lines upon therecord strip 13 during the progressive travel of the latter.

In the present invention it is to be understood that the record is provided with a current conducting line or graph of sound for each of the sound transmitting microphones.

As shown in Fig. 6 the record 13 is provided with three sound wave lines 46 46 and 46 each of which being reproduced through the medium of a current conductor 47 of minimum resistance and a conductor 48 of high resistance substantially as illustrated and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,396,178 issued to me November 8, 1921. The associated current conductors above mentioned constitute the terminals of the respective primaries 36 36 and 36 which are electrically connected through themedt um of induction coils or transformers with the secondary circuits 37 37 the receivers or loud speakers A 18 and C In the hereinbefore specification I have described apparatus employing separate sound and picture films, but the invention also includes apparatus ada ted to produce concurrently upon a sing e film both sound and icture records; and also apparatus wherey such combinedrecord film is re reduced to eflect the respective sound an picture exh bits.

and 37 with To illustrate the application of the invention with respect to combined sound and picture film devices; reference is had to a reproducing apparatus shown in Fig. 7 the operation of which, it will be understood, is substantially similar to producing apparatus except that one acts reversely of the other.

In Fig. 7 is shown a film 50 upon which is provided a row of positive pictures denoted by 51 arranged to pass successively across the axis of a kinetoscope objective- 52. Upon said film at one side of such row of pictures are provided sound record indentations denoted by 24 24 and 24 whereby reproducers as 53 53 and 53 are influenced to cause the associated receivers or loud speakers A B and C to be actuated simultaneously with the projecting of the respective film pictures upon the screen 34.

In order to effect in proper sequence reproduction of both the sound and picture records, said sound reproducers are located, so as to be operated by the record indentations at a position where the film has a uniform motion such as afforded by the constantly .rotating sprocket 54 and the objective 52 is located below the intermittently driven sprocket 55. a

' While I have illustrated and described specific embodiment. of the invention. it is to be understood that I do not confine myself thereto as changes may be made within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. The combination in apparatus for effecting synchronization and relative distribution of sounds with respect to sources in talking motion pictures, of a record body, multiple independentsound recording de-' vices associated with the record body for recording thereon independent co-extensive records, the sound producing qualities of which are chronologically dependent upon the impulse at the source, said sound recording devices having a placement common with the source of sound to be recorded, photographic recording apparatus, and means for inducing chronological concurrency between the photographic record and the respective sound records.

2. The combination in a paratus for effecting s nchronization an relative distribution o sounds with respect to sources in talking motion pictures, of a record'body, multiple independent sound recording devices associated with the record body for recording thereon independent linearly coextensive records, the sound producing qualities of which are chronologically dependent upon the impulse at the source, said sound recording devices having a placement com- I'non with the source to be recorded, a photo-- graphic record body, and means for inducing chronological concurrency between the of a plurality of movable tape record bodies, means for inducing chronological concurrency in the movement of said bodies, one of said bodies designed to receive thereon sound records, and the other body designed to receive thereon photographic representations, and multiple independent sound recording devices associated with the sound record body for recording thereon independent linearly co-extensive records, the sound producing qualities of which are chronologically dependent upon the impulse at the source, said sound recording devices having a placement common with the source to be recorded.

4. The combination in apparatus for effeet-ing synchronization and relative distribution of sounds with respect to sources in talking motion pictures, means for receiving photographic representations and sound records, means for inducing chronological concurrency in said photographic representations and sound records, and multiple independent soundrecording devices for producing independent linearly co-extensive records, the sound producing qualities of which are chronologically dependent upon the impulse at the source, said sound recording devices having a placement common with the source to be recorded.

5. The combination in a paratus for effecting svnchronization an relativedistribution o sounds with respect to sources in talking motion pictures, of a record body, said record body being provided thereon with independent linearly co-extensive sound records, the sound roducing qualities of which are chronologically dependent upon the sequence of sound impulsest a photographic record body in chronological concurrency with therespective sound records, and relatively independent sound reproducing devices, one associated with each of said sound records, and each having a placement common with the photographic representation of the source.

Signed at Seattle, \Vashington, this 19th day of January, 1924.

- H. FOLEY. 

